MALAYSIAN players (in yellow, from Left) S. Selvaraju, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Kelvinder Singh and Jivan Mohan.
NATIONAL hockey players are making full use of the lull in Malaysia to play in leagues in Germany, Holland, Australia and New Zealand.“A total of six players are of will be playing in overseas league, and this augurs well for the future of the sport,” said National Sports Council elite development office Ariffin Ghani.
S. Selvaraju and Baljit Singh are currently in Germany, Jiwa Mohan in Australia; while Chua Boon Huat will head for New Zealand, and Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Jivan Mohan to the Netherlands.
“We are working with the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) to expose more players by playing in overseas leagues, as they have an important assignment in the Asia Cup next year,” said Ariffin.
The Asia Cup will be held in Dubai next year, and it offers three direct entries into the 2010 New Delhi World Cup. Malaysia, Japan, China, South Korea, India and Pakistan, will joined by Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup winner Bangladesh and runners-up Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.
Tengku and Jivan will be playing in Division One outfit Hilversum Amsterdam, and the duo together with Selvaraju and Baljit will join the national team for the Hamburg Masters on Oct 3-5.
Malaysia will be up against Germany, Belgium and Pak istan in the Masters.
The players are expected to return on time for the Malaysia Hockey League, which starts on Oct 10.
Meanwhile, Ariffin also said plans to hire South Korean coach Kim Sang Ryul is still at the blueprint stage.
“I did meet him in Beijing just before China (whom Kim was coaching) played Germany and did not have the time to approach him for a confirmation,” said Ariffin.
Kim, if he accepts the offer, will be appointed as a consultant to the national juniors and seniors.
